ENSDA is in the process of raising bamboo seedlings for the establishment of bamboo plantations in its area of jurisdiction, with the ultimate goal of establishing a bamboo processing plant for value addition. This will lead to the protection of the soil as well as increasing the vegetation cover in the catchments area. The plantations will increase the carbon sinks, mitigating the effect of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Processing and value addition will create avenue for more employment opportunities throughout the value chain, thus improving the livelihood of the populace.

Capacity building

Adequate pool of trained manpower needs to be created for bamboo resource development through capacity building in propagation and supply of high yielding planting material. The trainings/capacity buildings should target ENSDA staff and farmers on bamboo propagation, plantation farming, management, harvesting, industrial processing, marketing and utilization. Already, ENSDA has trained the fast group of five ENSDA staff. The trainings were conducted by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). The trained staffs are currently applying the acquired knowledge in the propagation of the bamboo seedlings at the Green house bamboo nursery at ENSDA headquarters.

The objectives for the development and management of bamboo are:

Contribution to increasing forest cover through the sustainable development, conservation and utilization of bamboo resources through best management practices in gazetted forests, and on community and private land.

Support and development of private and community bamboo plantations.

Promotion of bamboo plantation, especially the involvement of large number of out growers in bamboo plantation development for afforestation and supply of raw industrial materials to bamboo industry with income generation for small householders.

Promotion of bamboo-based small, medium and large scale industries along the supply chain for utilizing the available resources at a sustainable level to generate income and provide sustained employment.

Project purpose - The project objective is to improve livelihoods and enhance socio-economic development in the basin through livestock by-product value addition, industrialization and employment creation.

Brief description - The tannery and leather project will utilize hides and skin for production of leather, which mostly is left to waste or fetch very low prices. The project components include: 1. Construction of a tannery and leather factory (3,200sqm) with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes of hides and skins annually (one of the largest tannery and leather factory in Kenya). 2. Construction of Effluent treatment plant. 3. Construction of water utilities, access road, perimeter fence and power supply. 4. Machines and Equipping of the tannery and leather factory. 5. Establishment of collection centres. 6. Establishment of a training centre and community capacity building 7. Operation and marketing</>